College soccer week five recap and awards

In one of the marquee match-ups in week five of the college soccer season, Notre Dame senior forward Jon Gallagher fired home a long range shot with 16 seconds left, breaking a tie and handing the No. 2-ranked Syracuse Orange their first loss since October 30, 2015.

The goal set off a wild celebration in front of 2,468 fans in South Bend in a game between two top three teams that was every bit as good as advertised. Some 7,032 fans on the West Coast were in a similar celebratory mood over Cal Poly’s 1-0 win against sixth-ranked UCLA Bruins, made possible by an early Justin Dhillon goal.

Impressive as both crowds and outcomes were, it was the college game at Talen Energy Stadium on Friday night between two under .500 teams that drew the largest crowd. The fifth edition of the Army-Navy Cup drew 10,092 fans, which is second only to the 10,168 who showed up to the game back in 2014.

Freshman Keenan O'Shea scored his first career goal to lift the Black Knights to their second straight win in the rivalry game that has become a highlight here locally every fall.

As individual performances go, former Philadelphia Union Academy and PA Classics forward Robert Miller III had a big week for Bowling Green with a couple of assists and a goal in a win over in-state rivals Ohio State.

Closer to home, Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper Greg O’Connell made a dozen saves to lead the Hawks to a scoreless draw against Philadelphia Soccer Six rival Villanova and a 2-0 win over Central Connecticut.

Villanova rebounded from the shut out against Saint Joseph’s with a vital road win over Marquette thanks to the duo of Miguel Polley and Jacob Anderson, who twice connected on goals, and goalkeeper Will Steiner who turned away a couple of golden scoring opportunities late to earn the Wildcats their first Big East win of the season.

Nationally, it’s hard not to love the week Louisville defender Tim Kubel had, leading his Cards to a pair of wins with five assists. Let’s take a look at some other top performances from the fifth week of the season.

Goal of the Week

Jon Gallagher’s strike with 16 seconds left not only one the game for the Fighting Irish, but handed No. 2 Syracuse their first loss since October 30, 2015.

Players of the Week

Regional Player of the Week: Greg O’Connell, Jr., Saint Joseph’s
Combined to make saves in two clean sheets for the week, including a scoreless draw against Villanova and a 2-0 win over Central Connecticut.

Philadelphia Union Academy Player of the Week: Robert Miller III, Fr., Bowling Green
The York, Pa. native who spent the 2014-15 season with the Union Academy up his third assist of the season in a 1-1 draw with Dayton and added an assist and a goal in a 2-0 win over Ohio State. He has two goals and four assists on the season.

National Player of the Week: Tim Kubel, Jr., Louisville
The junior right back from Germany had a big week leading Louisville to a pair of victories over Saint Louis and Virginia. He had four assists in the 6-1 win over Virginia and assisted the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Saint Louis. His abilities on set pieces and skill on both ends of the field in open play have been a real difference maker for the Cardinals this season.

Philadelphia Union Academy/Regional Team of the Week

GK: Greg O'Connell, Jr., St. Joseph's
Had two shut-outs and 12 total saves for the week.

D: Colton Storm, Sr., North Carolina (Mechanicsburg, Pa.)**
Had an assist in a 4-1 win over William & Mary and helped the back line register a clean sheet in a 5-0 win over Boston College.

D: Thomas de Villardi, Sr., Delaware
Had a pair of assists and helped the defense secure a shutout in a 4-0 win over Northeastern.

MF: Matt Crawford, Jr., Saint Joseph’s (Bensalem, Pa.)
Crawford scored twice in just under three minutes to lead the Hawks to a 2-0 win over Central Connecticut.

MF: Jack Skahan, Fr., North Carolina*
Skahan made his first ever college start for the Tar Heels and registered his first point with an assist in a 5-0 win over Boston College.

MF: Brian White, Jr., Duke (Flemington, N.J.)**
Had an assist in a 2-1 win over Georgia Southern and converted a PK in the first minute of the game in a 1-1 draw with Pitt for his third of the season.

MF: Miguel Polley, Jr., Villanova
Polley delivered a pair of assists in a 2-1 win over Marquette to double his assist total for the season.

MF: Ben Sampson, Grad, Delaware
Had a pair of goals, including the game-winner in a 4-0 win over Northeastern.

F: Robert Miller, Fr., Bowling Green (York, Pa.)*
Picked up his third assist of the season in a 1-1 draw with Dayton and added an assist and a goal in a 2-0 win over Ohio State. He has two goals and four assists on the season.

F: Jallah Acqui, Fr., Duquesne (Upper Darby, Pa.)
His first collegiate goal was a 93rd minute winner in a 1-0 win over Cleveland State.

F: Jacob Anderson, Fr., Villanova
Scored two goals, including the late game-winner, in a 2-1 win over Marquette for Nova's first Big East win of the season.

* Philadelphia Union Academy alum 2013-2016

** Played in Union Academy as a member of a youth club affiliate

National Team of the Week

GK: Greg O'Connell, St. Joseph's
Had two shut-outs and 12 total saves for the week.

D: Tim Kubel, Jr., Louisville
Kubel had five assists in a pair of wins for Louisville, including four in a 6-1 win over Virginia.

D: Ross Tetro, Sr., Rutgers
Made a goal line clearance to earn Rutgers a point against Indiana in a scoreless draw.

D: Mitch Ostrowski, Sr., Butler
Led the Bulldogs to a shutout against Providence and contributed a pair of assists in a 3-1 win over Evansville.

MF: Graham Smith, Jr., Denver
Contributed to the defensive effort to hold Creighton scoreless in a scoreless draw and scored a couple goals in a win over IPUFW.

MF: Jack Casey, Fr., Notre Dame
Came off the bench to score a goal and contribute an assist in a big win against previously unbeaten Syracuse.

F: Chris Arling, So., New Hampshire
Scored four goals and added an assist in a pair of wins for New Hampshire.

F: Riggs Lennon, Sr., Creighton
Scored all four goals in a 4-1 win over DePaul.

F: Nils Bruening, So., North Carolina
Came off the bench to score four goals in 41 minutes in a 5-0 win over Boston College.

F: Mohamed Thiaw, Jr., Louisville
Scored the game-winning goal to beat St. Louis and registered a brace in a 6-1 win over Virginia.

F: Arion Sobers-Assue, So., Florida Gulf Coast
Had a hat trick in a 5-1 win over Florida Atlantic and scored the game-winning goal in a 4-1 win over NJIT.